1INTRODUCTION
GENERAL
1.1 The Traffic Signs Manual is intended to give advice to traffic authorities and their agents on the correct use of signs and road markings. Mandatory requirements are set out in the current version of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions; nothing in the Manual can override these. The advice is given to assist authorities in the discharge of their duties under section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Part 2 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. Subject always to compliance with the Directions, which, except in Northern Ireland, are mandatory (see para 1.4), it is for traffic authorities to determine what signing is necessary to meet those duties, although failure to follow the Manual's guidance without good reason might well lead to enforcement difficulties. In particular, adjudicators might consider such failure to be evidence that the signing was unclear. Traffic authorities should always remember that the purpose of regulatory signs is to ensure that drivers clearly understand what restrictions or prohibitions are in force.
1.2 The Traffic Signs Manual is applicable in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. References to the "Secretary of State" should therefore be interpreted as referring to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Department for Regional Development (Northern Ireland), the Scottish Executive or the Welsh Assembly Government as appropriate. Any reference to the "Department" is a reference to the Department for Transport or the appropriate national office for Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales as described above.
1.3 Any reference to a "Chapter" is a reference to a Chapter of the Traffic Signs Manual, and any reference to a "section", unless otherwise stated, is a reference to a section in this chapter of the Manual. Where more detailed background information might be helpful, reference is made to Departmental Standards and Advice Notes. These can be found in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, published by the Stationery Office.
1.4 Any reference to the "Regulations" or the "Directions" is a reference to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (as amended), applicable to England, Scotland and Wales. Reference to a diagram number or to a Schedule is a reference to a diagram or schedule in those Regulations. In Northern Ireland the relevant legislation is the Traffic Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997. Diagram and regulation numbering occasionally differs in these Regulations (see Appendix D) and there are no General Directions. Sign layouts, meanings and permitted variants are generally similar but can vary; where the NI Regulations apply, the designer is advised to read them in conjunction with the Manual. Not all signs referred to in the text are included in the NI Regulations. References to directions are not applicable in Northern Ireland; where these are referred to, advice should be sought from the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service Headquarters. Appendix D also lists the appropriate legislation applicable in Northern Ireland where this varies from that in England.
1.5 In this chapter the word "must" is used to indicate a legal requirement of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions that must be complied with. The word "shall" indicates an essential (or mandatory) requirement of compliance with this chapter, and "should" indicates a course of action that is strongly recommended and represents good practice. The word "may" generally indicates a permissible action, or an option which requires consideration depending on the circumstances.
TYPES OF REGULATORY SIGN
1.6 Regulatory signs indicate requirements, restrictions and prohibitions. Most are erected to give effect to a traffic regulation order or other statutory provision (see para 2.2). There are certain signs where the legal requirements are specified in the Regulations; these include STOP, GIVE WAY, Keep Left and mini-roundabout signs.
1.7 Regulatory signs either give positive instructions or indicate a prohibition. Positive signs are generally circular with a white border and symbol on a blue background. They usually indicate something all drivers must do (e.g. keep left) or a facility available to certain classes of traffic (e.g. buses only). The exceptions are the octagonal red STOP sign and the triangular GIVE WAY sign. Prohibitory signs, which generally tell drivers what they must not do, are mostly circular and have a red border. The red ring indicates the prohibition; diagonal bars are used only on signs which prohibit a specific manoeuvre, i.e. banned left or right turns or U-turns. Other regulatory
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